Intake lock for motor vehicles



Aug. 21, E923. 1,465,924?- H. w. A. FUHRMANN INTAKE LOCK FOR MOTOR VEHICLES Filed Oct. 6, 1921 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 21, 1923.

UNE S g essee.

. INTAKE Loci; FOR Moron vE'HroL-Es.

Application 'filed' October 6, 1921. Serial No. 565,759.

To all whom it may mpm:

'Be it known th atL Funefnra'nri, a citizen of the United States, residing at -Alhambra, in the county of Lo s Angeles and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Intake Looks for Motor Vehicles, of which the following is a specification. I v

My --ini e'1 1tion relates 'to a device particularly intended .for preventing the unauthorized use of motor vehicles, said device being in the -nature of a lock for controlling the combustible mixture that passes from the ,c'arbure-tor to the intake manifold of an in ternal combustion engine; the principal objects of 'my invention being to provide a relatively simple and practical device that is positioned between the carburetor and the intake manifold of the engine, a portion of which device is adaptedto be removed so as to admit air into the inlet passageway from the carburetor to the -'cylinders of the engine, which action destroys the partial vacuum produced in thee-arbhmtor, and c'onseguently preventing the engine with Which the device is associated from receiving sufficient gaseous fuel to enable it to be operated.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device having means that automatically shifts into position to partially or fully close the inlet passageway torthe gas- .eou's fuel when a portion oi thel ock ing device is removed to admit air to said inlet pas- 'sageway and destroy the paitial vacuum er i Furtl-ier objects of my invention are to provide a lockingdevice that may be easily and cheaply produced and which will be very; effective in performing its intended functions preventing the unauthorized use of the engine.

WVith the 'foregolng and'other objects in iew, my invention consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts thatwill be hereinafter more fully described and claimed-and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which: v

Figure '1 is an elevational iew of an internal cen'abustion engine and showing the locking device contemplated by my invention in position between the carburetor and the intake manifold oat the engine.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged horizontal section I taken through the center ofthe locking device and showing the moyable plates thereot in position to partially close the inlet -at the ends of therecesses 17, and

passageway from thecarbjiretor to the i n-.

take manifold, consequently partially cuttlng off the flow of gaseous fuel through said passageway. v. T.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section similar to ing drawings which illustrate a pracueai embodiment of my invention, 10 deslgnates an internal combustion engineof the type ord narily employed. in vehicles 11 the carburetor provided with the usual tubular .gaseous fuel inlet. 12, and 13 the intalre maniiold having a tubular portion th atlis directly connected to [said tubular incinber,12.-

improved between the tubular members 12 and 13 and is secured in position by the usual bolts 14: thatpass through flanges that are formed 'on .said members 12 and 13.

The body elf the device comprises avpair of plates 15 thatare practically the same in size and construction; each of said plates being provided with a centrally emerged opening 16 that coincides with the openings or passagewaysthrough tubular members 12 and 13. Formed in the inner faces or the plates l5 and on opposite sides or the openin-gs 16 therein are laterally projecting chambers 17 that provide pockets thatare adapted to receive plates 18. and which'latter c'o-operate to form a valve that partially closes the opening 1'6 through the plates 15. A Plates 18 are provided with lateral extensions 19 that occupy recesses 20 formed it assing through the platesle and through the end portions pf these extensions 19 arepiiiot pins fil, looped about these pivot pins 21 are the inte rmediatepoi'tions of springs 29-, one arm of each spring belngseated in the i ueag device is p-qei'uo'ned Fig. 2 andshowin the key member inserted n tille ClSVlCB and t e movable plates therein corresponding plate 18', and the opposite end of said spring bearing against a part of one of the plates 15 adjacent 13013116 pivot pin, and said springs act to normally main tain the plates 18 close the opening 16.

in position to partially ings or recesses 23.

'vided with' a centrally arranged slot that receives a pair of ribs 26 on the plates 15, and formed'in the upper and lower faces ofthe key plate are grooves 27 that are adapted to receive ribs 28 that are formed on plates 15 within the recesses 28.

'. The edges of'the plates 15 adjacent to the openings or recesses 23 areindented or provided with notches 23 to the sides of the ribs 26, and which construction renders it difficult to plug or cover the outer ends of the openings formed by the coinciding open- Formed in the outer portion of one edge 5 of key plate 2 1 is a notch 29 that is adapted to receive a retainingmember 30 that is pivoted to one of the plates 15, and which arrangement provides means for locking the key plate in inserted position,

When the key plate isinserted in the opening formed by the recesses 28, the inner end of said plate bears against the arms 19 and swings the'pivotally mounted plates 18 away from opening 16 into recesses 17, and with the parts so, positionedthe fuel opening from the carburetor to the intake manifold is maintained and consequently ample gaseous fuel will pass into the engine so that the same may function in its usual manner.

When the owner of the car to which my improved device is applied'desires to prevent the unauthorized use of said car, the key plate 24c isremoved thereby permitting the I springs 22 to act and throw the plates 18 into position to partially close the opening 16, and at the same time providing a rela tively large opening into the passageway which will admit air into said passageway and consequently destroy the partial vacuum existing therein, and as a result it is impossible for the engine to draw sufiicient gaseous fuel into its cylinders to enable it to continue in operation.

Thus it will be seen that I have provided a relatively simple, practical and efficient device that includes a member in the nature of a key plate that is adapted to be removed by the owner ofthe car for the purpose of forming an'opening into the gaseous fuel inlet passageway so that it will be impossible to operate the car through failure of the engine to receive sufficient gaseous fuel, and further said device being provided with means that will automatically shift into position to fully or partially close the inlet passageway when the key plate is removed from the device. i

It will be understood that minor changes in size, form and constructionof the various parts of my improved locking device may be made and substituted for those herein shown 1. The combination with the gaseousfuel supply pipe of an internal combustion engine, of a member located in said supply pipe and provided with'an air inlet opening, and

a member normally closing said air inlet opening, but adapted to be removed atwiu from the machine to prevent unauthorized use of the engine. 7 r

2.. The combination with th egaseous fuel supply pipe of an internal combustion engine, of a member located in said pipe and provided with an air inlet opening, a member removably positioned in said air inlet opening, and means within the member pro vided with the air inlet opening for partially closing the fuel inlet passageway therethrough. j

' 3. The combination with the gaseous fuel supply pipe of an internal combustion engine,'of a member located in said pipe and provided with an air inlet opening, a mem-' ber removably positioned in said air inlet opening, means withinthe member provided with the air inlet opening for partially closing the fuel inlet passageway therethrough, and which fuelpassageway closing means is retained in open position when the removable member is positioned withinsaid member having the fuel inlet passageway.

4. The combination with a gaseous fuel 'supply pipe of an internalcombustion-en- 'gine, of a member positioned in said fuel supply pipe and provided with an air inlet opening, a key plate adapted'to normally close said air inlet opening, and a pair of spring pressed plates pivotally arranged within said member and adapted to partially close the fuel inlet passageway therethrough, and which plates are" adapted to be engaged when said key plate is inserted in the first mentioned member.

5. The combination with a gaseous fuel supply pipe of an internal combustion engme, of a member positioned in said fuel supply pipe and providedwith an'air inlet opening, a key plate adapted to normally close said air inlet opening, a pair of spring pressed plates pivotally arranged within said member and adapted to partially close which plates are adapted to be'engaged by '6. In a lock for the gaseous fuel supply by the key and'retained in open position the fuel inlet passageway therethrough, and T 5 pipes of internal combustion engines, a housing having an opening adapted to coincide with the gaseous fuel passageway through the fuel supply pipe, there being an opening formed in said housing and leading from the exterior thereof to the fuel passageway therethrough, and a vmember removably positioned in said opening, this member being in the form of a plate adapted to be removed from the machine to prevent unauthorized operation of the engine.

7. In a lock for the gaseous fuel supply pipes of internal combustion engines, a

housing provided with a fuel passageway that is adapted to coincide with the fuel passageway through the supply pipe, there passageway through the supply pipe, there being an air inlet opening formed in said housing and communicating with the fuel inlet passageway therethrough, a key plate adapted to be inserted in said air inlet opening, means within the housing for partially closing the fuel opening therethr'ough, and which means is retained in open positi'on when the key plate is inserted in the air inlet opening in said housing, and means for lockingthe'key plate'in position within said housing.

9. In a look for the gaseous fuel supply pipes of internal combustion engines, a housing provided with a fuel passageway that is adapted to coincide with the fuel passageway through the supply pipe, there being an air inlet opening formed in said housing and communicating with the fuel inlet passageway therethrough, a key plate adapted to be insertedin said air inlet openin and means within the housing for partially closing the fuel opening therethrough, and which means is retained in open position when the key plate is inserted in the air inlet opening in said housing.

In testimony whereof I have signed my, name to this specification.

HENRY W. A. FUHRMANN. 

